Rights of Ordinary Members

[Mandi D]

Our Society allows its members to attend Board meetings as observers, but I am trying to find relevant sections in Robert's Rules that deal with rights of ordinary members (paid members of the Society not on the Board) at Board meetings. Can anyone point to specific sections that may be helpful? We would like to find out if they should have speaking rights and if they have the right to review supporting meeting information that is circulated to Board members in advance of the meeting.

[Joshua Katz]

On 2/15/2023 at 11:47 AM, Mandi D said:

but I am trying to find relevant sections in Robert's Rules that deal with rights of ordinary members (paid members of the Society not on the Board) at Board meetings.

You won't find any; they have none except as the bylaws may direct, or the board itself may decide by rule or for a specific meeting. 

[Mandi D]

Thanks, Joshua! That explains a lot and helps figure out how to proceed. 

[Gary Novosielski]

On 2/15/2023 at 12:47 PM, Mandi D said:

Our Society allows its members to attend Board meetings as observers, but I am trying to find relevant sections in Robert's Rules that deal with rights of ordinary members (paid members of the Society not on the Board) at Board meetings. Can anyone point to specific sections that may be helpful? We would like to find out if they should have speaking rights and if they have the right to review supporting meeting information that is circulated to Board members in advance of the meeting.

RONR provides no rights whatsoever for non-members to attend meetings.  Only board members have rights in board meetings.

You say that your society allows general members to attend board meetings as observers.   Is this by a rule or merely a custom?   Is it, for example, provided in the bylaws?  If so, then these non-(board)-members have such rights as are spelled out there.  If they are given the right to attend as observers, then they have the right to attend and to observe--nothing more.

An assembly has the power to allow non-members to speak, when no business is pending, by a majority vote, or to allow them to speak in debate on a motion by a two-thirds vote.